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Forum Index : Windmills : Vawt...going in a big way
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| VK4AYQ Guru  Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi mac46 Great Job, can't wait to see how it performs it should make some worthwhile power. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
VK4AYQ, Hi Bob, Thank you for following my project, and for you'r kind words. I need to chase down some loose ends, and do a through check out of everything...don't want to break this thing because of my lack of at least checking and looking things over. I've already spotted a few potential problems that need changed. Bluegraypon, Scott, Thank you for you'r interest and suggestion, yes, alot of work and planning has gone into this project. I think it best to "make ready for sea", before leaveing the port.(sort of speak). This is uncharted territoy for me, so I'm going look things over. Thanks for responding. .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Dont know about the rest of you, but I'm as nervous as a frog in a blender to see how this thing goes. Keep us posted Mac, great work. The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Glen, "nervious as a frog in a blender", Very good discription of my feelings, I'm experianceing a thunder storm at the presnt time, so no working on the mill for awhile today. The mill is danceing and pulling against the teathers right now, don't have the hold down arms made up yet so its like a teathered horse out there. Winds are gusting over 30mph. I've removed the break assembly to rework the mounting so "no break at the presnt time". Not an ideal situation. Poor planning on my part. The good news is that the dust will be washed off the wings. Thank you for you'r continued interest and support on this project. .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Everyone, After the thunderstorm past I looked things over, no damage, and everything is shower fresh and clean. I did notice though...I had'nt welded the "tank" down to the main frame, it is ancored to the cement by tie bolts every 18 inches. I installed flatwasher shims under these brackets and tightened everything down again. Then brought out the welder and welded the tank to the main anchor frame. 
I also took a picture of the inside of one the mounted wings, I thought you guys might not be clear on how they bolted on to the rotor assembly. You can see that the vertical part of the frame is flush with the wing surface. 
Thats about as far as I got today. Chance of another storm tonight. If there is a paticular camera shot of a certain area you would like to see, let me know, I'll try to accomadate you'r wish. .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| smithy Regular Member  Joined: 30/01/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 52 |
I'm really looking forward to seeing a vid on it turning. Out of interest what sort of Motor do you have it hooked onto, will it be charging batteries or grid tied. You certainly have the beast on a leash. Smithy "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind" Bob Dylan |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Smithy, Yes, the "beast" is literly tied off by a rope leash. I've put up another picture of the inside mounting of the wing details. In this picture you can see the leading edge profile, in the last picture,(previous post), you can pick out the 1/2* dehedral in the trailing eddge. As I stated in an earlyer posting, I have'nt decided or made final plans for the alternator. I'll need to see what the average rpm will be "loaded" in a 10 mph wind, and then be able to fit a proper size alternator. I'll be fabricating a mechanical "parking arm" assembley today. I'll be doing alot of testing in the near future, you guys and gals know just about as much as I do, as far as what this animal will, or won't do, at this point. All I can say is, "it wants to go to work". "Its trying to turn." .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Everyone, I made up two parking arm assemblies and welded them inplace this afternoon. I've taken the rope off. 
As you can see in the picture, take out th top bolt and then piviot the arm inward and down and it will rest there until needed again. Its Spring loaded so it does'nt rattle around in the wind. Its made out of 3/8ths.x4 inch plate, and 2"x2" heavy wall sq. tubeing. Welded with 6010 root pass, 7018 middle and top passes.DC-. Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to get to the "break system". .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
I made a mistake on that last picture as you can see...ths one. .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Everyone, I don't have any progress to report since the last posting. The wind mill is in its parking arms, and has been through a few thunderstorms, a good one yesterday and again last evening. Nothing damaged as yet. Thats a test in its self I guess. .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Smithy, and everyone, I intend for the mill to "not" be grid connected. I'll be connecting it to a bank of batteries. The weather here has been uncooperative, so no futher progress on the mill to speek of except that I've started to round up parts and pieces for electrical box's ect. The local farm suppy store was sold out of deep cycle golf cart batteries, except for the higher priced ones. (What do you guys think?) Would I be better off with the top of the line battery for $20 each more in costs? I intend on starting with six, 6 volt battery's, and will add another six battery's later this fall, and will maintain a 12 volt system. .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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Bluegryphon Newbie  Joined: 03/05/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 2 |
Hi Mac46, I made a VAWT and it is not grid tied. I have it powering the horse barn, (my wife calls it an equestrian facility). I have 6 golf cart Interstate brand batteries in a 12 volt configuration. I think that you will be happier with the better batteries. Depending on how much power you are expecting from the windmill, you may need to step up the voltage for more power. With the golf cart batteries, it is easy to change the voltage. If you already have a 12 volt inverter, you could use 2 inverters with a 24 volt system. I have a F&P generator that is belt driven at a 6:1 ratio. I am looking forward to see your progress!!! Scott |
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| smithy Regular Member Joined: 30/01/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 52 |
Hi Mac46 6V batteries should be OK, and gives you options to go 12V, 24v, or 36V depending on the alt that you choose. Ive never worked on something so big as yours but I would be looking at an alt that is likely to charge your batteries in the range of 60-200 rpm, with the amount of weight that you have I think its likely to struggle above this (I could be wrong though). I'm a suck it and see sort of a guy, so I would go the cheaper option until you know how many RPM your wind turbine is likely to do for given wind conditions. "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind" Bob Dylan |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Hello Guys, Its developeing approx. 20#s of forward rotational thrust in a light 3 to 4 mph wind, in a stationary position. This is an average of all positions that I checked around the horn. It seems to have its thrust no matter where its positioned. I have'nt installed the breaking system yet, so I won't try any further testing in higher winds until I have this installed and working. I don't want to get into a runaway situation. As I said before, I don't know what to expect in a 10 mph wind as far as performance,(RPM), and (Thrust)or (Torque HP)or if it will be stable enough to maintain say even 60 RPM. I have a feeling that further reinforcement of the upper structure will be required. Thank you for the comments, I'm takeing everything under conderation. .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| smithy Regular Member Joined: 30/01/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 52 |
I'm just thinking 200rpm, is a rotation of over 3 rev's per second.. Gee on that it could be very dangerous. Probably don't want it going that fast. I have found that the rotation pressures on the pole can be quite significant. One way of working out potential RPM's is to use the TSR, and also the nominal wind speed, in conjunction with the Radius of the windmill. Assuming its 4m in Diameter, then round trip around the edge is approx 12.5m If we assume it can scoot around with a TSR of 2, then wind speed needs to be around 6.25m/s or 13 mph for 1 rev per second (or 60 RPM), if its got enough torque. "The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind" Bob Dylan |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Smithy, Yes, I agree with you'r mathamatics, thats what the math indicates it should do. There are however several potiential variables yet to be determined. I could continue with a detailed assumtion of these, but at this point it would only end up with a "assumption or guess". Not that this would be a waist of time, but that it would be only a theroy, but a bench mark to look for, certainly. Pulling against the stepup gearing and an electrical load will bring the TSR back down to "1 or possibly less". So, rpm should be somewhere from 30 to 60 in this wind speed of 13mph. Time and testing will bring out the performance facts. I'm not prepared to make any claims at this point. This is all experimental. .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Everyone, Today I set aside enough time to install 2 metal shelves for the batteries to set on, and also the mounting plate for two control box's. The farm store has'nt called to say that the batteries have come in yet, so I'm takeing this as "they haven't come in yet". No sense driveing to town if they are'nt there yet. Speaking of batteries...I pulled the batteries out of the bulldozer this morning after being in there since last fall, they are both nearly dead, and both on the charger now. So I guess I get the "IDIOT" of the week award. .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Mack Nice to know I am not the only one, time to break out the desulphator. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
VK4AYQ, Thats just it, I don't have a desulphator. I'd like to buy one to give it a workout but I'm alittle reluctant to buy just any old unit, I've never had one and don't know anything about them. Both batteries came up to full charge and have been resting for a few days now, I'll look them over in the morning, check them out good. I've installed two control box's, and have "two" new 6 volt batteries home from town now...thats all they had. I think everyone must be putting new batteries in their golf carts this spring. They'r going to call when another shipment comes in. This time of year is a busy time for me, so I don't have as much free time on my hands to work on the wind generator as I'd like. .....Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Mac The one I use is from Infinitumstore.com they work well and so far I haven't managed to destroy one. Farmers love spring even though it means hard work, so we let you off the Mill for the moment. On the batteries, you should be looking at all the ones they take out of the golf buggies, with a desulphator you will recover most of them. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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